Attachment for the intake of internal-combustion engines



G. W. MILLER July 13, 1954 ATTACHMENT FOR THE INTAKE OF' INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Oct. 20, 1952 FUEL-AIR.

INVENTOR GEORGE W M/LLER ATTORNEY www Patented July 13, 1954 ATTACHMENT FOR THE INTAKE OF INTERNAL- COMBUSTION ENGINES George W. Miller, Salisbury, N. C.

Application October 20, 1952, Serial No. 315,612

V14 Claims. (Cl. 12S-119) This invention relates to attachments for use with an internal combustion engine for facilitating the starting of the engine when it is hot. These attachments areparticularly for use on the intake manifold and the air filter of the engine.

With some cars, when the intake manifold is very hot after the car has been running and the engine is stopped, it is difficult to start the engine again as long asl it remains fairly hot, due to the fact that the mixture in the intake manifold and carburetor is too rich for such temperature conditions. y

'I'he principal object of this invention is to provide a valve attachment for use with the intake manifold which, While the engine is running, is closed, andv which, when the engine is stopped, will provide vented openings yto the atmosphere for the escape of the hot residual mixture inthe intake manifold. f

When the engine is in operation, the valve of this invention is closed by the intake suction in the manifold so that the engine operates in the usual way. When the engine is stopped, a springoperated valve acts to open the valve to provide vent or escape openings for the residual hot mixture, thereby facilitating restarting of the engine, even if the manifold is still hot, due to the fact that this too-rich residual mixture has been released.

More particularly, the invention comprises a spring-pressed valve, the interior of which is open' to the suction of the intake manifold, the suction serving to move the valve against the spring to close the Valve by sealing off the apertures or vents in the normal operation of the car or truck. The spring acts When the engine stops, to open the valve to a position to clear or open the apertures so that the rich, hot mix,- ture in the manifold will be released.

In a modification of the invention, the yvalve as above described is provided with electro-magnetic meansV for closing it, cooperating with the suction feature also serving to close thevalve. The electromagnet is in circuit, with the ignition system'of the car or truck, so that when the engine is operating, the magnet and suction close the valve. Y- y Y In a second modification of the invention, the Valve of this invention is provided with a mechanical device for closing it, cooperating with the suction feature also serving to close lthe valve. This mechanical device is operatively connected with the accelerator, so that when the accelerator is depressed as in normal running, the valvefis closed. f

Another feature ofthe invention is this:

If the engine has been operating for some time and all the parts aref-fairly hot, and the engine is stopped, it hasbeen found that the mixture of the air filter, particularly through the perforated ment for the air filter which will allow the hot fuel and4 air from the" carburetor and fromtheV intake manifold tends to 'back up and diffuse into mixture which tends to accumulate in the air filter to pass outwardly therefrom, so that when the engine is started again, the mixture is not too rich.

In actual use of this invention, the springpressed valve which is closed by the suction in the intake manifold when the engine is operating,

and openedby the spring when the engine is stopped, greatly improves the starting of the engine under the conditions stated. However, the use of the vent attachment for the air filter in cooperation with the valve mentioned still further improves the starting of the motor when it is fairly hot.

The valve of this invention and the vent iny the a-ir filter cooperate to remove the rich residual mixture from the manifold, carburetor and air cleaner. In some cases, cool air may enter the valve and move into the air filter and out the vent therein; in othercases, cool air may entery the air filter and its vent and pass out through the Valve. In whatever direction these convection currents move, the residual too-rich mixture is cleared out from the manifold, carburetor and air cleaner. Y

The invention will now be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: y

'Fig 1 is a side elevation of the valve of this invention, for mounting in the intake manifold.

Fig. 2 is a side view, partly in section, of

the valve of Fig. l mounted in the intake mani-- fold, the valve being open, and further showing the attachment for the air filter.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the valve of Figs. 1 and 2, the valve being closed.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side view of the air filter attachment. Y

Figs. 5 and. 6 areV vertical sectional views of modifications 'of theY valve, with auxiliary electromagnetic and mechanical operating features, respectively. Y

.Referring now to these drawings, the invention comprises a substantially cylindrical valve body-indicated generally7 at 2, provided withY eX- ternal threads Li adapted to be threaded into a corresponding threaded opening'in the intake manifold@ of an internal combustion engine. The valve body 2 is providedwith a passage 8 opening into a larger chamber ifi providing a shoulder i2.

The valve body further inclu-des a head Hl` threadably engaged at I6 with the body. The Valve body is providedirwith an inner annular valve .seat I8, positioned a littley below the underside ofthe head I4. The head i4 just above the .Si valve seat I8 is provided with a number of apertures or .vents Ziopening intothe atmosphere.

A disc valve i122 iisf'adapted to be pressed up wardly by a spring 24, seated on the shoulder l2, the spring pressing the valve upwardly from its seat so that the apertures 2t Will open to the atmosphere.

When the engine is in operationl during normal running, the suction in the intake manifold .pulls the valve 22 against the seat I8 to seal off the apertures 20. As soon as thefienginefstopspand there is no longer suction in the manifold, the spring 24 moves the disc valve 22 upwardly away from its seat to clear the apertures so that ythe hot fuel mixture -in the manifold passes upwardly through the valve and out of these apertures, thereby draining od the toon rich mixture. Thistoo-rich mixture makes it difficult to start the engine if the parts are still fairly hot. "But if this `mixture is cleared out, as with the valve of this invention, the engine starts much more'easily. 'Whenthe engine starts-again, the suction, of course, pulls down the valve 22 against its seat to seal off the apertures or vents '20.

The valve as just described greatly improves andfacilitates the restarting `of the engine while the `parts are still hot. However, it has been found that When the engine is stopped and the parts are still hot, residual fuel-air mixture diffusesupwardly into the air filter, a conventional type'of which is indicated at 3l). The usual air iilter is provided with a vertically positioned pipe 32 for delivering lfiltered air tothe carburetor, diagrammatically shown at 34, this pipe usually being provided with apertures 36. When the engine is stopped, the hot fuel-air mixture tends to diffuse into'the chamber 3l of the air filter, which mixture is too rich for subsequent restarting of the engine. In order to drain on this mixture, one Wall of the air vfilter is provided with one or more escape openings 33 and a hood 40, provided with vents 4I, positioned over these openings by means of bolts 42, the hood being provided with metallic Woolor any suitable `filtering material 44. W hen the engine stops,'the hot, too-rich `fuel-air mixture drains outwardly through 'the holes 38, and through the vents'in the hood d, thereby still further facilitating the restarting of the engine because of the removal of this -toorichmixture.

Referring now to the modification shown in Fig. 5, the valve there shown is provided with aspring pressed valve disc 22a and spring 24a as before. Mountedon top of the valve is fa hous- .ing t in which is mounted a solenoid 52 in which is housed a plunger 54, which is nonmetailic provided with an iron head 55 aeting as the armature. The plunger 54 rests on disc valve 22a. The solenoid 52 is connected by Wire 58 in series with the low voltage part of the ignition circuit, the other end of the wire being grounded in the valve body.

Infoperating, suction closes the valve as before, when the engine is running, the closing being aided by the solenoid, the circuit of which is closed to move the armature down to close the valve. When the motor stops, the spring 24a raises the armature and valve and clears the apertures 20.

1Referring to Fig. 6, the top B0 of the valve housing is provided with a plunger 6I which rests on valve 22h and is urged upwardly by a spring 62. The housing carried-*an angled bracket B4 provided Witha bell-crank type of lever B6, which is pivotally connected-to the top of plunger 62,

by pin 63 in a slot at the top of the plunger, one

arm 68 of the lever being `pivoted .at .1tto the bracket (54,v the other :arm being connected through a spring 'l2 to the accelerator linkage 14. in operation, suction closes the valve 22h when the engine is operating; when it stops, spring S2 'lifts plunger 6| and spring 24 opens the valve as before.

The valve 2 in the intake manifold, by itself, greatly facilitates the starting of a hot engine,

the.hoi-mixture passing out through the valve.

However, the operation is improved by convection currents of cool vair coming in through the air filter and the apertures 38 therein, and out the valve. In other cases, coolair mayenter the valve inthe manifold and 'a'y convection current passes backvvardly into'the carburetor and out the air filter and the vents 38 therein. v'l-he direction of such 'convection currents depends on the temperature conditions. In any case,fthe starting-of a hot engine is'greatly facilitated.

The valve forming the subject matter of this invention may be mounted on the carburetor, instead of on the intake manifold near the carburetor, as shown. `Thecarburetor would need to be designed to accommodate the attachment. When so mounted, it would act as befora'infthat when the engine stops, the valve opens Aas described to open the air `vents 2'0 to-the manifold adjacent' the carburetor andallovv therich mixture therein to escape-through vents 2B, or cool air to enter and escapev With the mixture through the vents '4i in the air filter.

The valve of this invention can also be 'used with tivo-cycle engines and Where so used, the valve wouldbe screvvedonto and Would-openlinto the cranlrcase of such engine.

While the invention has'been described in some detail, it should be understood that the invention is not lto be limited to the exact details shown, but may be carried out in other Ways.

I claim as my invention:

l. in combination with the intake manifold --and an air filter of the type containing a pool of liquid of an internal combustion engine, a valve body positioned on the intake manifold and opening into it, said valve vbody -being provided with apertures openinglinto the atmosphere, a spring pressed valve in said valve body, the suction in i the manifold acting to move the valve against the spring to seal off said apertures when the engineis operating, said spring acting to move the valve to vopen the apertures when the engine stops, said air lter being provided with apertures, located belowthe pool of liquid therein and opening into the atmosphere; said valve and said apertures in therair filter cooperating to set up convection currents of cool air through the manifold and air filter When Athe engine has stopped, for clearing residual .fuel-air mixture from the manifld and airlter.

2. The combination as set forth in claim l, further including an fapertured-hood over said apertures in the air lter, and yfibrous filtering material enclosed in said hood.

3. In combination, an air cleanergand lter for an internal combustion engine, said cleaner-comprising a chamber in the upper part thereof provided With a 'mass of filamentary filtering material, and comprising a chamber in the lower part thereof, a vertically extending perforated pipe extending from vthe upper chamber through the lower chamber, onevvall of .said lower cham ber being provided with escape apertures open to the atmosphere, for `providing passages for the escape of fuel-air mixture from said lower chamber, a valve carried by the intake manifold and having an escape passage therein, means cooperating into said valve for closing it by suction in the manifold when the engine is operating and opening it When the engine is stopped, the escape passage in said valve cooperating with said escape apertures in the Wall of the lower chamber for allowing the escape of fuel-air mixture When the engine is stopped.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 3, further including a hood filled With porous filtering material positioned over said apertures.

5. A vacuum or suction operated valve, comprising a valve body adapted to be secured on the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, said valve body being provided with gas escape apertures, a valve seat in said valve body and means, including an electromagnet, for moving said valve to the closed position to close said apertures during engine operation and for opening the valve to open said apertures when the engine is stopped.

6. A vacuum or suction operated valve, comprising a valve body adapted to be secured on the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine and opening into the manifold, said valve body being provided with apertures opening into the atmosphere, a spring pressed valve in said valve body, the suction in the manifold acting to move the valve against the spring to seal-off said apertures during engine operation, an electromagnet, including an armature cooperating with said suction effect, for moving said valve to, and holding it in closed position when the circuit is closed, the valve spring acting to move the armature in the opposite direction When the circuit is broken to open the valve.

'7. A vacuum or suction operatedrvalve, comprising a valve body adapted to be secured on the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine and opening into the manifold, said valve body being provided with apertures opening into the atmosphere, a spring pressed valve in said body, the suction in the manifold acting to move the valve against the spring to seal-off said apertures during engine operation, and lever means cooperating with said suction effect, for moving said valve to and holding it in closed position. Y

8. A vacuum or suction operated valve, comprising a Valve body adapted to be secured on the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine and opening into the manifold, said valve body being provided With apertures opening into the atmosphere, a spring pressed valve in said valve body, the suction in the manifold acting to move the valve against the spring to seal-off said apertures during engine operation, and

yplunger and lever means, including a cooperating spring, cooperating with said valve, for moving the valve to the closed and open positions.

9. A vacuum or suction operated valve, comprising a valve body adapted to be secured on the intake manifold of an internal combustion Y engine, said Valve body being provided with gas intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, said valve body being provided with gas escape apertures, an annular valve seat in said body, a spring pressed disk valve the spring of which is inside the valve body, said disk valve adapted to be moved by manifold suction against its spring to seal-on and close said gas escape openings during engine operation, said valve spring acting to move the disk vaive to open said gas escape apertures, and an electromagnet coperating with said suction effect for moving said valve to, and holding it in closed position during engine operation.

ll. A vacuum or suction operated valve, comprising a valve body adapted to be secured on the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, said valve body being provided with gas escape apertures, an annular valve seat in said body, a spring pressed disk valve the spring of which is inside the valve body, said disk valve adapted to be moved by manifold suction against its spring to seal off and close said gas escape openings during engine operation, said valve spring acting to move the disk valve to open said gas escape apertures, and lever means, cooperating with said suction effect, for moving said valve to, and holding it in closed position.

12. A Vacuum or suction operated valve, comprising a valve body adapted to be secured on the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, said valve body being provided with gas escape apertures, an annular valve seat in said body, a spring pressed disk valve the spring of which is inside the valve body, said disk valve adapted to be moved by manifold suction against its spring to seal-off and close said gas escape openings during engine operation, said valve spring acting to move the disk valve to open said gas escape apertures, and spring operated plunger and lever means, cooperating with said valve, for moving it to the closed and open positions.

13. A suction operated valve adapted for use on the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, comprising a valve body having a passage therein adapted to communicate with the interior of the manifold, provided with a gas escape aperture opening to the atmosphere, a valve seat in said valve body, and a valve in said valve body, movable by suction in the manifold to sea-t on said valve seat to close off said gas escape aperture when the engine is operating, and to open said passage to the atmosphere When the engine is stopped.

14. A suction operated valve adapted for use on the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, comprising a valve body having a passage therein opening into the intake manifold, a valve seat in said valve body, a valve adapted to t onto said valve seat to close said passage, and a spring for moving said valve to the open position, whereby the valve is completely closed by suction when the engine is operating and is held completely open by said spring when the engine is stopped.

Great Britain Feb. 13, 1948 

